Key quotes from part two of Erik's press conference
Manchester United face Brighton & Hove Albion in our second clash of the new Premier League season on Saturday and Erik ten Hag has spoken to journalists ahead of his side's trip to the south coast.
In the first part of the media briefing, the boss discussed incoming and outgoing transfers along with who might feature for the Reds in the next instalment of our 2024/25 campaign.
Moving on to the latter half of the press conference, which has now been released following its 22:30 BST embargo, the United manager talks about Alejandro Garnacho's potential progress, how he intends to use two midfielders in the coming months and utilising the depth of his squad.
Keep scrolling to read the key points Ten Hag made ahead of our bout with the Seagulls...
Part two: Press conference v Brighton
Press conference part two | Ten Hag talks Garnacho, Mount's best role and Mainoo's international experience...
MAINOO'S MIDFIELD ROLE
"I think yeah, he collected such good experiences [with England] and those experiences will only help him become a better player, 100 per cent. Where do I see him? A midfielder. A perfect midfielder is one who is very good in attacking and very good in defending. He is a player who can do it, and he can play as an attacking midfielder and as a holding midfielder. We have to see from situation to situation, occasion to occasion, who is available. And also look to opponents, where we can hurt the opponent or where we can take a strength from the opponent out."
COMMUNICATING CHANGES
"Each case is different. We can't explain for every game [why a player has been left out] but of course when a player has questions and he doesn't understand, I am always open for conversations. Sometimes I will take the initiative but I don't want to explain for every game why I made however many decisions I have to make. There are so many and I cannot explain them all."
MOULDABLE MOUNT
"I think he is versatile and I think we we can use him in more than one position, but it will be more in an attacking position than in a more defensive position."
GARNACHO SUPPLYING THE THRILLS
"I agree we need [exciting players] but I think every team at the top needs a player with the X factor. Garnacho definitely has it in him to become a player. We already have seen this on occasions that he shows this X factor, but also others in the squad that have shown it. If you want to be that player - world-class - then you have to do it consistently."
REBUILDING FROM A BUSY SUMMER
"I think for all the clubs who also have lots of international players, playing for their nations, they are all in the same boat. There are clubs who have less internationals and they would have a longer pre-season together as a team and as a squad, so they are maybe a little further ahead in terms of game model and fitness."